Police in hot pursuit as robbers cart away $11m in Ogun

Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

A 4-man robbery gang on Friday evening escaped with $11million after robbing a businessman at the Oke – Sokori – Ita Eko axis of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The robbers, who were all clad in black T-shirt and Jean trousers, according to eye witnesses, also wore black facemasks, brandishing riffles in an operation that lasted about five minutes.

The suspects escaped from the scene after robbing their victim, with the money stacked in two “Ghana – Must – Go” bags.

It was gathered that the robbery suspects, who operated in a tinted Toyota Camry (Muscle), with registration number JJN 137 intercepted their victim in front of FATGBEMS Petroleum Filling Station at Oke – Sokori, at about 4.37pm in his Toyota Venza, marked (Abuja) ABC 565 GN.

They thereafter proceeded to the car trunk where the money was kept.

After off-loading the foreign currency into their own car, the victim’s Venza was demobilized while the car key was also taken away.

The victim, whose identity could not be ascertained as at the time of filling this report, told a police patrol team who came to the scene after the robbers had escaped, that he was returning to his base after an unsuccessful banking attempt where he had gone to deposit the foreign currency.

He said he was at the Oke – Ilewo branch of First City Monumental Bank (FCMB) to deposit the money, but was turned back on the premise that the banking hours had lapsed.

Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, told the newsmen that operatives were already on the trail of the criminals.

“It is quite unfortunate that the suspects had escaped the scene before our operatives arrived at the scene. But I want to assure you that we will definitely get them and bring them to justice.

“The command had immediately upon receipt of information about the incident, sent signal across the state to ensure that the suspects are tracked down. All our technical units have been activated and for sure, we will get them.

“I however, want to use this medium to assure the good people of Ogun State not to panic as there is no course for alarm; they should remain calm, go about their normal and routine businesses because our men will surely track down the suspects,” he said.